Legendary Dodge Challenger 'Black Ghost' street racer resurrected with 807 hp | Fox News

2022-09-24 01:37:12 By : Ms. Sally lin

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2022 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.

Dodge Charger Daytona SRT coming in 2024

It's an infamous muscle car that hid in the shadows.

The "Black Ghost" is a 1970 Dodge Charger R/T SE originally owned by Detroit police officer and U.S. Army veteran Dennis Qualls.

Qualls used it for street racing in the city, but kept a low profile given his profession.

He'd show up to race, usually dominate, then drive off into the night and disappear for months at a time instead of hanging out with the other drivers.

THE DODGE CHARGER DAYTONA SRT IS A ‘BADA--’ ELECTRIC MUSCLE CAR THAT SCREAMS LIKE A BANSHEE

The Dodge Challenger Black Ghost was inspired by a 1970s street racer.  (Hagerty Drivers Foundation/Dodge)

The 426 Hemi V8-powered car was known as the "Black Ghost" until it mysteriously stopped showing up and faded into legend after Qualls reenlisted in the Army in the late 1970s.

Qualls mostly kept it in his garage until he died in 2015 and it passed onto his son, Gregory, who only then learned about its illicit history.

Dodge will build just 300 Challenger Black Ghosts all with an 807 hp Hellcat V8. (Dodge)

"I’d know Dad was taking the car out because starting it shook the house," Gregory Qualls told The Detroit News.

The car was added to the National Historic Vehicle Register of significant cars and trucks that's kept at the U.S. Library of Congress and maintained by the Hagerty Drivers Foundation in 2020. It even spent time on display on the National Mall last year.

Dodge is now saluting the car with a Challenger Black Ghost limited edition model that will be one of the last V8-powered muscle cars it ever builds before the Challenger is replaced by the electric Charger Daytona SRT in 2024.

DODGE DESIGNER EXPLAINS HOW TO MAKE ELECTRIC MUSCLE CARS LOOK COOL

The widebody Challenger is equipped with an 807 horsepower version of Dodge's supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V8 and a 20-by-11-inch wheel and tire package.

DODGE IS FINALLY SELLING A CHALLENGER CONVERTIBLE

The Challenger Black Ghost features Dodge lettering on the nose.  (Dodge)

Cosmetic updates include Dodge lettering on the nose, hood pins, black Brembo brake calipers, throwback Challenger script badges on the fenders, a white tail stripe and a unique alligator skin roof wrap inspired by the vinyl top on Qualls' car. The interior features Alcantara and leather trim, plus carbon fiber inserts and a Black Ghost dash plaque.

An alligator skin roof wrap echoes the vinyl top on the 1970 car. (Dodge)

Dodge will build just 300 examples at a yet to be announced price that's likely to be above the $88,335 starting price for a Challenger Jailbreak model that it shares its body and engine with.

DIY DODGE CHALLENGER MUSCLE CAR REVEALED FOR $7,995

The Black Ghost is the sixth of seven special edition "Last Call" Challenger and Charger models Dodge is releasing in 2023.

The Charger King Daytona is a tribute to a famous California drag racing car. (Dodge)

It previously revealed the Challenger Shakedown, Charger Super Bee, Challenger and Charger Swingers, Charger King Daytona and there's one more on the way.

The seventh will be unveiled at the SEMA auto show in Las Vegas in November as the final new V8-powered Dodge model.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

No details have been released, but Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis said it will be "history making," which suggests it could surpass the 808 hp Dodge Challenger SRT Demon as the most powerful muscle car ever built.

Gary Gastelu is Fox News Digital's Automotive Editor.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2022 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.